Kentia Palm

You may already know the kentia palm. They are the best of
all palms to grow as house plants because of their requirement for shade. They are popular because of their tropical look and sold all over the world.

There are 2 different kinds, both vulnerable in their native
habitat on Lord Howe Island in Australia. Both are also referred to as kentia, sentry, or paradise palms.

The seeds are cultivated from the trees growing in the wild
and are exported for landscapes and gardens.

Because the trees are threatened in nature, the industry is
very tightly regulated to ensure the survival of these gorgeous specimens in
nature.

In the photo the curly leaf is in the foreground, and the flat leaf version is in the background.

Appearances

The most popular of the kentia palms has long green feather
leaf that has flatter presentation than its curly leaf cousin.

Its leaves get to be
around 8-12 feet long with the feathery (leaflet) parts getting to be almost 4 feet long.

This gives an arching like appearance with the feathers hanging gracefully from
the leaf stem.

This variety has a dark green to gray color trunk with its
leaf rings a lighter color.

The Photo below is the curly leaf variety.

Neither species has a crownshaft.

Both get flowers on numerous individual stems
that hang down to as long as 6 feet. The yellowish flowers that will turn to an orange/red color on
the flatter leaf kentia, and to deep red/ brown color on the curly leaf
variety.

The curly
leaf kentia obviously has strongly arched leaves that curl a lot like the Christmas
tree palm.

Their
beautiful leaves will get anywhere from 6-10 ft long.

The trunk on this kind can
have a swollen base, is green on the upper section turning a brownish gray
in the lower sections.

It also has the very distinctive
pattern of old leaf rings.

Kentia Palm Growth

It doesn’t matter which kentia palm you have their growing
conditions are similar.

Neither can tolerate any frost more than an hour or two.

They
require a well acidic to only slightly alkaline soil. Best to add some moisture
holding organic type of material in with the soil.

They prefer to have heavy to part shade. Both kinds prefer
the arid cooler night temperatures of California.

The curly leaf kentia doesn’t
so well in southern Florida.

The flat leaf can tolerate Florida’s climate as
long as it shaded most of the day.

Flat Leaf

Quick info: Scientific name: Howea forsteriana

50 plus ft tall, 20 ft wide if outdoors, single trunk

Minimum temp 30°F,
zones 10-11 outdoors

Slow grower, needs shade to part shade

Any well drained soil, with some humus mixed in

Curly Leaf

Quick info: scientific name Howea beloreana

20-30 ft tall, 10 ft wide if outdoors, single trunk

Minimum temp 30°F
zones 10-11

Very slow grower, full shade to part shade

Well drained acidic to only slightly alkaline soil with lots
of humus mixed in for moisture

The kentia palm is hard to get the seed to germinate.

It can
take up to two years in ideal conditions if at all.

Now with that record you understand the need to protect the
trees in the wild where the seeds are collected from.

Giving these guys a regular dose of a quality water soluble
palm tree fertilizer along with regular watering will keep them healthy and
happy.

If your tree is
potted indoors then I would feed him every 8 weeks. For outdoors in soil, 3-4
times per year during the spring, summer and autumn months.

If you are in need for a "slice of paradise" indoors then
either of these trees could be your answer.

NOTE : About Buying Palms

If you are looking to buy palm trees
of any kind then I would highly recommend purchasing through the Real Palm Tree Store.

They
are a huge nursery based in Florida with connections to many quality growers.

Whether you are ordering from inside the United States,
Canada or another part of the world-- ordering one tree for your landscape or many
for a commercial project-- I’m confident you won’t be disappointed.

Their customer
service is second to none; all products are high quality and backed by a money back 100% satisfaction guarantee.

Palms trees growing in Canada is not that far fetched according to recent studies on climate change. Apparently global warming & palm trees spreading north are directly related. Just one indication th…